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Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing
Source Publication
Nursing Research and Practice
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2011
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/361250
Abstract
This Grounded Theory study describes the process by which older persons “become” volunteers. Forty interviews of older persons who volunteered for Habitat for Humanity were subjected to secondary content analysis to uncover the process of “becoming” a volunteer. “Helping out” (core category) for older volunteers occurs within the context of “continuity”, “commitment” and “connection” which providemotivation for volunteering.When a need arises, older volunteers “help out” physically and financially as health and resources permit. Benefits described as “blessings” of volunteering become motivators for future volunteering. Findings suggest that older volunteering is a developmental process and learned behavior which should be fostered in older persons by personally inviting them to volunteer. Intergenerational volunteering projects will allow older persons to pass on knowledgeand skills and provide positive role modeling for younger volunteers.
Recommended Citation
Janet Witucki Brown, Shu-li Chen, Linda Mefford, Allie Brown, Bonnie Callen, and Polly McArthur, “Becoming an Older Volunteer: A Grounded Theory Study,” Nursing Research and Practice, vol. 2011, Article ID 361250, 8 pages, 2011. doi:10.1155/2011/361250
Submission Type
Publisher's Version
Comments
This article has been funded by the University of Tennessee's Open Publishing Support Fund.